Efficacy of Biodanza for Treating Women with Fibromyalgia

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a 3-month Biodanza intervention in women with fibromyalgia (FM). Design: This was a controlled trial. Setting/location: The study was conducted at a university research laboratory and social center. Subjects: The study comprised 59 women with FM recruited from a local association of patients with FM. Participants were allocated to the Biodanza intervention group (n = 27) or usual-care group (n 32). Intervention: The Biodanza intervention was carried out once a week for 3 months. Outcome measures: The outcome measures included the following: Pain threshold, body composition (body-mass index and estimated body fat percentage), physical fitness (30-second chair stand, handgrip strength, chair sit and reach, back scratch, blind flamingo, 8 feet up and go, and 6-minute walk test) and psychologic outcomes (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire [FIQ], Short-Form Health Survey 36, Vanderbilt Pain Management Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Results: We observed a significant interaction effect (group*time) for pain threshold of several tender points (left [L] and right [R] side of the anterior cervical and supraspinatus, trapezius L and lateral epicondyle R, algometer score, tender points count), body fat percentage, and FIQ total score. In the intervention group, post hoc analysis revealed a significant improvement in pain threshold of the anterior cervical R and L and supraspinatus R and L tender points (all p < 0.05), algometer score (p = 0.008), tender point count (p = 0.002), body fat percentage (p = 0.001), and FIQ total score (p = 0.003). Conclusions: A 3-month (one session per week) Biodanza intervention shows improvements on pain, body composition, and FM impact in female patients.